Batch hopper



oct 16, 192s. 1,687,499

. C.` S. JOHNSON.

BATCH HOPPER i'i'led Maren 12 192e 2 sham-sheet 1 Q //A Cef w TQ Oct. ,16, 1928. l 1,687,499

` c. s. JOHNSON BATCH HOPPER Filed March 12, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented. oct. 16, 192s.

UNITED STATES CHARLES S. JOHNSO, OF CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

BATCH HOPPER.

Application led March 12, 1926. :Serial No.`94.157.

My invention relates to improvements in f will herein describe the preferred embodi- 55 material storage devices and has particular reference to batch hoppers such as are used in concrete mixing machines and the like.

In mixingconcrete it has been the practice to introduce all of the ingredients forming the batch into a single hopper for discharge into the mixing drum. Usually the sand,

- gravel or other ,aggregate used in making concrete is moist and will so dampen the innersurfaces of the hopper that any powdered cement coming in contact therewith will tend to stick and harden. For this reason, the ingredients will not slide out freely with the "result that the changed.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome these diiiiculties by providing an improved batch hopper for concrete mixers having a novel means for preventing the powdered cement from coming in contact with any surfaces which are apt to be dampened by contact with moist sand or other aggregate.

Stated more specifically the invention aims to provide a large hopper in which the aggregate for the bath is stored and a smaller cement hopper having an outlet opening within said large hopper, the opening being 'closed by the aggregate initially fed into the large hopper whereby the cement Howing from the cement hopperwill be surrounded by a layer of the aggregate and thereby held out of contact with the inner surface of thev large hopper. l

Othergobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a mixing machine equipped with a batch hopper embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2.-'2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of themachine shown in Figure-1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4-of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is va fragmentary plan view of .a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view' taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 5.; f While I have shown in the drawings and proportions of the mix will be vthe mixing machine, but it` will be apparent ments of the invention, it is to be understood that Ido not intend thereby to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the 4spirit and scope olf the invention as expressed in the appended c aims.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, l

10 represents the revolving drum of an ordinary concrete mixing machine, and -llydesignates generally a hopper for receiving the batch which is to be discharged into the mixing drum. In the present instance, the hopper is stationarily mounted on the frame of that the present invention is applicable as well to movable batch hoppers.

Preferably the hopper 11 comprises a flat front wall 12 substantially triangular `in shape to Whichis secured a. wall 13 of semicircular cross section. The latter tapers downwardly'and terminates at its lowerend v in a curved trough or spout 14 which projects through an openingin the mixing drum and serves to deliver the .ingredlents ofthe batch to the drum. To provide adischarge outlet for the hopper, anbpening is cutin the front wall 12 corresponding inl shape to that of the trough 14, the flow of materials through this opening being controlled by a valve in the form of a gate 15 pivoted at its upper edge on' the front Wall 12 so as to swing l outwardly. y

As a suitable means for manually moving the gate into open and closed position,- a bellcrank 16 is mounted to turn on the same axis as the gate, one arm being secured to the gate and the other connected to suitable actuating means such as the rod 17. In the form shown herein the rod is received in a notch or `recess formed in a re-enforcing bar 18 on the hopper, and is held in raised and lowered positions by fixed collars 19 and 20 which engage compartments, one for' the linel aggregate and the other for the coarseaggregate. Preferably the discharge opening of this hopper is of substantially less width than the outlet of the aggregatehopper' and is disposed within the aggregate hopper so asto be closed bythe Sand or gravel initiallyy introduced. To

these ends, the cement hopper shown herein comprises two spaced parallel plates 22 secured at their forward edges to thefrontwall12 and having their rear edges connected by an inclined plate 23 fastened at its upper end to theedge of the aggregate hopper. The plate 23 andthe wall 13 diverge downwardly, and the latter is out off at a substantial disflow therefrom. In the present instance, the

front-edge' of the cement hopper outlet coincides with the upper edge of the outlet from the hopper 11, but all of the other edges of the cement hopper outlet are spaced a substantial distance from the inner surface ofthe aggregate hopper.

In preparing a batch of materials in the present device, the gate 15 is first closed and the sand and crushed rock, or othervaggregate, are introduced into 'their respective compartments. These will slide down `the inner surface of the hopper 11 completely closing the outlet of the cement hopper and filling the space between the outer surface of the cement hopper and the inner surface of the aggregate hopper. The cementl is then introduced into its hopper. When the gate is opened to releasethe aggregate, the cement will be released by the sliding of the` aggregate downwardly and will flow out of its hopper in a stream equal in width to the distance between the side plates 22, this stream being enveloped by a layer of aggregate as shown in Fig. 4. While the hoppers arethus being emptied, the aggregate in the space about the cement outlet will slide downwardly thereby maintaining a layer of aggregate on 'the inner surface of the wall 13 beneath the cement outlet. relatively 'large and since more aggregate than cement is used in ,ordinary concrete mixes, it is apparent that all of the cement will have passed out before the supply of aggregate in the outer hopper is exhausted.

Thus by maintaining a supply of aggregate around the cement hopper until all of the cevthe aggregate hopper.

Since the cement outlet is made compartment is provided. In this arrangement the cement hopper is positioned against the front wall 12 ofI the aggregate hopper. As in the form previously descri ed, the outlet of the cement hopper is vpositioned adj acent the outlet ofthe aggregate hopper and isarrangedto vdischarge a layer of cement onto the stream of aggregate flowing out of This arrangement is particularly useful where gravel or mixed aggregate are used.

I claim as my invention:

1. A batch hopper for concrete mixing machines comprising, in combination, a hopper for containing the aggregate having a tapering body portion and a discharge outlet, a gate arranged to control the ow of materials from said outlet, a cement hopper having a tapering body portion the lower end of which defines an opening narrower than said outlet, said cement hopper being mounted in said aggregatehopper and having its lower rear and lower side portions supported a substantial distance from the bottom and side portions of said aggregate hopper.

2. A device of the character, described,

- comprising in combinatiom-a hopper providing a compartment having an outlet near its lower end, a gate controlling the flow of material from said outlet, a second hogper having a discharge outlet within said rst-mentioned hopperand adjacent the outlet thereof, the width of said inner hopper outlet being substantially less than the width of said outer hopper at the point of discharge of said inner hopper, and the rear discharge edge of said inner hopper being a subst ntial distance above the bottom of said ou er hopper.

3. A batch hopper for concrete mixing machines comprising, in combination, a' hopper for containing the aggregate for a batch having an outlet at itsl lower end, the body portion of `"said hopper being shaped to discharge a streain of aggregate through said outlet, a

cementhopper arranged to discharge a layer outlet opening, the' walls of said compartment being adapted to direct the flow of material through said opening, means for opening and closing said outlet opening, and means providing a second compartment having an outlet disposed within said first mentioned compartment and adapted to be closed by the material contained therein.

5. A device of the character described hav.-v

ingv two compartments, one having a valve controlled outlet and the other having an outlet opening disposed 4within the first compartment and arranged to be closed by the material contained in said first mentioned compartriient.

6. A batch hopper for concrete mixing machines comprising, a hopper' for containing the aggregate for the batch, said hopper having a gate controlled outlet, and a cement hopper having an outlet opening disposed Within said first mentioned hopper and adapted to be closed by the aggregate initially ted into said first mentioned hopper.

7.A A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a hopper having a downwardly tapering body portion open at its lower end, and a secondx hopper having a tapering body portion providing a storage compartment surrounding the body portion of said first mentioned hopper, said second hopper having a valve-controlled outlet.

8. A batch hopper for concrete .mixing machines comprising in combination, a downwardly tapering hopper having a discharge spout at its lower end and an outlet opening above said spout, means for controlling the flow of material from said opening, and a cement hopper having an outlet opening Within said first mentioned hopper, the forward edges of said cement hopper outlet being disposed substantially in the plane of the d upper' edge of said first mentioned outlet.

9. The'cornbination of two hoppers, one adapted to contain the aggregate and the other the cement for a concrete mix, said hoppers being arranged so that in the discharge 0f the aggregate and cement from their respective hoppers the aggregate serves to envelope the cement to prevent the latter from coming into contact with surfaces engaged by the aggregate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES s. JoHNsoN. 

